CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Darius Garland will play for Team LeBron in the 2022 NBA All-Star game after LeBron James selected him in the All-Star Draft Thursday evening.
James made the pick with his second reserve spot after taking Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks first for his bench.
“My loyalty to this hometown, being back in Cleveland, I’m going to go with Darius Garland,” James said on the live broadcast on TNT.
Kevin Durant shook his head as James made the selection to which James said, “I know you wanted him KD.” Durant responded, “You know I did.
That’s why you did that. That’s terrible.”
Durant wanted to trade for Garland but James quickly rebuffed the overture.
“Garland is untouchable,” James said. “I’ve left Cleveland twice I need to have some type of muscle to go back with me.
“I’ve got to keep Garland. That’s my only way I can save my fans left that I got back there.”
Here are the complete results from the 2022 NBA All-Star Draft.
Team LeBron
Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (captain) and Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Reserves: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat; Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks; Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers; James Harden, Brooklyn Nets; Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns; Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
Team Durant
Starters: *Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (captain); Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers; Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies; Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics; Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
* = injured
Reserves: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets; Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns; Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz; Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls; Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks; Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs; Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
The 2022 and 71st NBA All-Star Game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland on February 20 at 8 p.m.